Care-Coordinators
Trauma-informed specialists able to work one-on-one to ensure citizens are connected with resources needed for success
Care-Coordinators Explained:
Care-Coordinators will be trauma-informed and work with citizens of our community who need support in their process of treating & healing the effects of toxic stress. Care-Coordinators will work one-on-one with community members to support physicians' discussions about ACEs, toxic stress, and resilience. They will ensure citizens are connected with resources that meet their needs and truly address the issues they face. They will walk alongside community members to help set up initial supports and will follow up with families once supports are in place to ensure success. Why they're needed:
Brain-based research has shown that people experiencing crisis - whether that be physical or emotional - are at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to problem-solving and planning. Our brains prioritize the limbic system when we're in a fight or flight mode (read more about stress responses here) which focuses on our survival in the moment. This creates a very real problem for those experiencing toxic stress (stress that is ongoing making you're unable to recover in between stressful episodes). In our experience in working with those in crisis, we see a HUGE need for Care-Coordinators within our community. One recent example is a family who has been homeless for over 3 years. They've experienced generational homelessness, domestic abuse, and drug use. The adult daughter finally decided to leave her abuser this fall. Without someone sitting alongside her, spending hours on the phone for multiple days, she wouldn't have had the energy to sustain the wait of finding a safe place to stay. This role fell to a teacher who wasn't trained in how to provide the long-lasting mental supports needed in the immediate situation nor was she able to follow up to ensure needs were being met. The woman is now homeless again and has fled the city with her children after being hot-lined for the fourth time. |
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